Characteristics Leaf. Leaves of Sugar Maple are opposite, have a fairly long petiole, and have five lobes, each lobe of which is sparsely incised or toothed. The bottom two lobes (one on either side of the petiole) are the smallest. The dark green leaves have medium green undersides. Fall color is highly variable but usually outstanding, and a ...

The silhouette of the sugar maple leaf is the centerpiece of the Canadian flag. The golden-brown wood has an attractive and easy-to-work grain, sometimes enhanced by a fungus that gives it a wavy, almost iridescent texture called "bird's-eye."